Pittsburgh, PA (June 9, 2009) – Seventeen physicians from the West Penn Allegheny Health System, representing 14 medical specialties, were recognized in the May issue of Pittsburgh magazine for being among the region’s top doctors in their respective fields. 

Each year, Pittsburgh magazine publishes a list of the region’s “top” doctors that is compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd, an independent research firm.

Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Using mail and telephone surveys, and electronic ballets, the research team asks physicians and the medical staff leadership of major U.S. medical centers to identify highly skilled, exceptional doctors.

To create the list, Castle Connolly contacted thousands of health professionals in the region and asked them to name the doctors to whom they would entrust a family member when faced with a specific medical problem.

Careful screening of a doctor’s educational and professional experience is also performed by Castle Connolly in the process of making a final determination of inclusion on the list.

The following physicians from either Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) or the Western Pennsylvania Hospital (WPH) are recognized in the 2009 “America’s Top Doctors” publication:

Cardiovascular Disease
Srinivas Murali, M.D.
Special Expertise: heart failure, transplant medicine –heart, pulmonary hypertension

David Lasorda, D.O.
Special Expertise: Interventional cardiology, peripheral vascular disease, atrial septal defect closure, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure

Colon and Rectal Surgery

David Medich, M.D.
Special Expertise: colon and rectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease/Crohn’s

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Wayne Evron, MD
Special expertise: diabetes, osteoporosis, cholesterol/lipid disorders, thyroid cancer

Family Medicine
Roberta Bashore, M.D.

Gastroenterology
Paul Lebovitz, M.D.
Special Expertise: irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease/Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis

Hand Surgery
Mark Baratz, M.D.,
Special Expertise: hand surgery, upper extremity Surgery, elbow reconstruction

Dean Sotereanos, M.D.
Special Expertise: hand and upper extremity surgery, elbow surgery, shoulder surgery

Medical Oncology
Charles Geyer, M.D.
Special Expertise: breast cancer

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Alan Lantzy, MD

Neurological Surgery
Donald Whiting, M.D.
Special Expertise: movement disorders, pain and spasticity, spine disorders

Neurology
Lara Kunschner, MD
Special Expertise: neuro-oncology, brain tumors

Otolaryngology
Moises Arriaga, M.D.
Special Expertise: hearing loss, acoustic neuroma, balance disorders, otology and neurotology

Surgery
Mark Roh, M.D.
Special Expertise: liver cancer, cancer surgery

Thoracic Surgery
Robert Keenan, M.D.
Special Expertise: lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors

George Magovern, M.D.
Special Expertise: cardiovascular surgery, ventricular assist device

Urology
Jay Lutins, M.D.
Special Expertise: prostate cancer, incontinence-female

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